The 24 Most Asked Questions About Diamonds Ebook/24... · 2017. 10. 8. · These can include marquise, pear, princess, cushion, ... retro or antique diamond engagement rings are both

The 24 Most Asked QuestionsAbout Diamonds

gerardmccabe.com.au

About The Author

gerardmccabe.com.au

My name is Gerard McCabe.

Our team takes pride in our commitment to customer service. Findingthe perfect ring can take time and plenty of research, so we are here tohelp every step of the way.

We are so pleased to give you our insight on 'The 24 Most AskedQuestions About Diamonds'. We lend you our expert knowledge andcrack down on the myths surrounding this precious stone.

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www.gerardmccabe.com.au

Chapter 1: What does the term 'carat' mean? 5

Chapter 2: Why does colour matter? 6

Chapter 3: Why does cut matter? 7

Chapter 4: Why does clarity matter? 8

Chapter 5: What does the shape of a diamond refer to? 9

Chapter 6: Is size or quality more important? 10

Chapter 7: What are the benefits of buying a certified diamond? 11

Chapter 8: Are some certifications better than others? 12

Chapter 9: How much should I spend on a diamond engagement

ring? 13

Chapter 10: What is a bespoke diamond ring? 14

Chapter 11: Where do diamonds come from? 15

Chapter 12: Where are diamonds sourced? 16

Chapter 13: Can diamonds come in different colours? 17

Contents

The 24 Most Asked Questions About Diamonds

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1


Chapter 14: Where do coloured diamonds come from? 18

Chapter 15: What are the advantages of vintage engagement rings? 19

Chapter 16: What is the 'rough' weight of a diamond? 20

Chapter 17: What do brilliance, fire and scintillation mean? 21

Chapter 18: What is fluorescence in a diamond? 22

Chapter 19: How do I care for my diamond? 23

Chapter 20: What are conflict diamonds? 24

Chapter 21: What are synthetic diamonds? 25

Chapter 22: Why are diamonds the most precious stone? 26

Chapter 23: Why are diamond engagement rings so popular? 27

Chapter 24: Are diamonds a good investment? 28

Contact Us 29

Contents


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Chapter 1


A carat is a measurement of diamond weight. A metric carat is defined as

200 milligrams, and can be subdivided into 100 points. More often than not,

the price of the diamond will increase with the carat size.

However, the overall price will be a result of the combination of the clarity,

cut, colour and carat weight of the stone.

What does theterm 'carat' mean?


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Chapter 2


The first thing you need to know about diamonds is the colour. Colour is very

important in defining the quality of your diamond. A chemically pure and

structurally pure diamond has no hue. The GIA Colour Grading Scale is the

most widely accepted grading system, though it’s not the only one. Ranging

from D to Z, D colour represents a pure and colourless diamond.

As you progress through the scale towards Z, the diamond becomes less and

less pure.

The colour turning more yellow in nature due to its imperfections. D - F grade

diamonds are classed as colourless, G - J near colourless, K - M faint, and so

on. While the difference between a D and a G may be very small to the

untrained eye, it has a huge effect on the price of the diamond.

Why does colourmatter?


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Chapter 3


The cut refers to how a diamond is faceted. The quality of the cut is an

important factor in determining the final quality of the diamond. It adds

brilliance and is what determines the amount of sparkle.

All diamonds refract light, but a good cut is essential to bringing out the

true brilliance.

Why does cutmatter?


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Chapter 4


Under magnification, diamonds are assessed for clarity and to look for any

flaws.

There are two types of flaws. One is a blemish, which is found on the

surface and the other are inclusions, which are internal flaws. Internal

flaws can be bubbles, cracks or other minerals present in the stone.

Fortunately, flaws are usually undetectable to the human eye, but this

inspection is an important step in determining the overall quality of a

diamond.

Why does claritymatter?


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Chapter 5


Many people confuse the terminology between cut and shape. The most standard

of the diamond shapes is round brilliant. This is a popular shape and as the name

suggests, the light return from a round diamond is quite brilliant.

Other shapes are generally referred to as fancy shapes. These can include marquise,

pear, princess, cushion, oval and emerald.

Fancy shape diamonds have grown in popularity in recent years and in particular

pear, cushion and oval shapes are popular choices. All offer beautiful sparkle and

appeal and lend themselves to unique ring designs.

What does theshape of adiamond refer to?


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Chapter 6


People are often confused by what should be more important. Many

people can get hung up on the size of a diamond, thinking that this is what

matters most. In fact, larger sized diamonds can often mean poorer

quality. Unless you are paying top price for a large diamond, you are

sacrificing on quality over size.

Once again, it comes back to a choice of quality over quantity. If your

budget requires you to make a sacrifice, it is better for that to be size over

quality.

Is size or qualitymore important?


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Chapter 7


Diamonds can come with certification from the jeweller you are purchasing it

from (such as our Gerard McCabe Diamond certification). There are also

independent diamond certification laboratories that produce reports on

diamonds. Certification provides a record of authenticity for the diamond and

also grades the four C's: cut, colour, clarity and carat. This provides

assurances for you about the diamonds quality.

But bear in mind that not all certification standards are equal.

It is important to research the reputation of the diamond grading laboratory

along with your potential jeweller.

What are thebenefits of buying acertified diamond?


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Chapter 8


There are many diamond grading laboratories. They often use the same

grading terminology; however, some certification processes are much

stricter than others.

At Gerard McCabe, we certify all our diamonds and we also offer two

forms of independent certificates on a selection of our diamonds: one

from the GIA, one of the world's leading and most respected diamond

laboratories and secondly Canada Mark Diamond certification which

certifies the known origin of the diamond.

Are somecertifications betterthan others?


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Chapter 9


There is a lot of conjecture about how much should be spent on a

diamond engagement ring. Old-fashioned rules used to apply that

governed how much a man should spend on his intended. These included

anything from one to three month's salary. These are quite outdated

ideals.

You should spend whatever you feel most comfortable with. Going into

financial stress over an engagement ring is not an ideal start. Always aim

for the highest quality stone you can afford within your bracket. If you

focus on quality instead of price, you can’t go wrong.

How much should Ispend on a diamondengagement ring?


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Chapter 10


By definition, bespoke means specially made to order. Or adapted for a

specific user or purpose. A one off. Unique.

Crafting a bespoke diamond ring will involve sitting down with a designer,

who will be able to hand sketch your design or provide Computer Aid

Design (CAD) renders of your proposed ring design. The process can take

a little longer than selecting a ring from the jewellers designs, and it will

likely cost a little more too. The final piece will be one of a kind. A truly

romantic gesture.

What is a bespokediamond ring?


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Chapter 11


Diamonds were formed from the massive forces under the earth’s crust. That is,

high pressure and temperatures combining to create these beautiful gemstones.

They are made out of carbon and have a crystalline structure. As the forces of the

earth created them, they were pushed up to the surface via volcanic activity,

through what are known as Kimberlite pipes. This is where they were then

discovered and mined by man.

The most wonderful aspect of the diamond creation story is that they can take

billions of years to form. An aeons old piece of the earth, on your hand forever, is

quite a romantic thought.

Where do diamondscome from?


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Chapter 12


Diamonds are found all around the world, including across the ocean bed.

The majority of diamonds are sourced from Central and Southern Africa,

with other sources including Australia, Brazil, Canada, India and Russia.

Here in Australia we are world famous for our pink diamonds.

At Gerard McCabe we have worked hard to establish clear supply lines for

our diamonds. We work directly with the site holder and and proudly

affirm that all our diamonds come from conflict free mines in Canada,

Russia and Africa. We offer a selection of ‘known origin’ diamonds which

come with a Canada Mark Diamond Card that certifies their origin from

one of two Canadian diamond mines.

Where arediamondssourced?


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Chapter 13


Diamonds will form in just about every colour and hue you can imagine.

They are known as coloured diamonds or fancy coloured diamonds and

they are very rare. This rarity makes them highly valued.

Australia produces the highest number of coloured diamonds, including

the famously rare Argyle pink diamonds. Highly desirable and rare colours

include yellow, blue, green, red and orange diamonds.

Can diamondscome in differentcolours?


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Chapter 14


The colour is usually caused by the presence of additional trace elements

within the crystal lattice of the diamond. For example, yellow diamonds

have trace elements of nitrogen and blue diamond’s contain boron within

their structure.

Pink diamonds are the world’s greatest mystery. It is believed that the

colour is caused by plastic deformation of the crystal lattice under

extreme pressure, however, the worlds diamond experts don’t necessarily

agree on this one.

Where do coloureddiamonds comefrom?


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Chapter 15


Can't see the appeal in a newly minted engagement ring? Or can't bear the

thought of sharing your design with another? It's time to consider vintage.

Vintage, retro or antique diamond engagement rings are both sentimental,

unique and beautiful.

The appeal of a vintage or antique engagement ring is manifold. For those of

discerning taste and singular values, a vintage engagement ring is an obvious

answer. Usually, women who like vintage or antique style do so because it is

rare, largely individual and few others will be able to replicate it. A strong

desire to stand out from the crowd and to carve their own identity separate

from the masses is a strong signifier in the vintage woman.

What are theadvantages of vintageengagement rings?


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Chapter 16


The rough weight of a diamond is the weight of the natural gemstone before

it has been cut and polished. Also referred to as the birth weight of the

diamond. The weight gives an indication of how much of the original diamond

was cut away to achieve the best possible final gemstone.

Diamond cutters use sophisticated technology to analyse the crystals before

they are cut. This helps to determine the best diamond shape and the optimal

size to cut to achieve the best quality gem.

What is the 'rough'weight of adiamond?


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Chapter 17


The quality of a diamond’s cut causes the light effects of brilliance, fire

and scintillation.

Brilliance refers to the white light reflected up through the table, or top, of

a diamond. Fire refers to the rainbow of coloured light, or dispersed light,

that is reflected from the outer facets on the top of the diamond.

Scintillation is caused by the flickering of light as it bounces around within

the stone.

Each diamond displays varying degrees of brilliance, fire and scintillation

and these qualities determine the individual personality of the gem. This is

why we highly recommend viewing diamonds in person.

What do brilliance,fire and scintillationmean?


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Chapter 18


Some diamonds demonstrate fluorescent properties when exposed to

ultraviolet light. This fluorescence can manifest in many varying colours,

blue being most common.

Fluorescence can have the effect of making a yellow diamond appear

whiter or more colourless than it is. A diamond certificate will state if a

diamond has fluorescence.

What isfluorescence in adiamond?


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Chapter 19


There are four basic rules that apply to cleaning your diamonds:

1) Handle With Care

Be aware that the oils in your skin or the chemicals in beauty products can

mask the brilliance of your diamond.

2) Clean Regularly

Use a solution of warm water, detergent and a little cloudy ammonia. Next,

leave your diamond to soak. Brush gently with a soft toothbrush and then

rinse with clean water.

3) Be Aware of Your Surroundings

Although diamonds are the hardest natural substance, they can chip.

4) Put Them Away

House your diamonds in a fabric-lined jewellery box or one with dividers.

Avoid mixing diamond jewellery, as diamonds can scratch each other.

A sure fire way to keep your diamond jewellery in peak condition is to pay a

visit to your jewellers. At Gerard McCabe, we are always happy to take a

look at your jewellery. We will check for any potential damage and give

them a professional polish.

How do I care formy diamond?


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Chapter 20


The allure and appeal of diamonds is intense. World wide, there is a high

demand and interest in this beautiful gemstone. This means that they can,

unfortunately, be associated with conflict. Otherwise known as blood

diamonds or war diamonds, these stones are unethically sourced and are

illegally traded to fund conflict in war-torn areas particularly in Central and

Western Africa.

At Gerard McCabe, we believe in transparent and ethical trading in our

industry. We follow the guidelines of the Kimberley Process in the selection of

our diamonds. Under this system, all buyers and sellers of both rough and

polished diamonds must make the following affirmative statement on all

invoices:

“The diamonds herein invoiced have been purchased from legitimate sources

not involved in funding conflict and in compliance with United Nations

resolutions. The seller hereby guarantees that these diamonds are

conflict-free, based on personal knowledge and /or written guarantees

provided by the supplier of these diamonds.”

What are conflictdiamonds?


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Chapter 21


It can actually be quite hard to determine the difference between

synthetic and natural diamonds. Indeed, some labs are producing such

flawless stones that it is hard to detect.

As man made diamonds can be created in days, they are generally

cheaper than natural diamonds. These are not to be confused with cubic

zirconia, which although mimics diamond in look, is actually of a different

chemical make up. Natural diamonds tend to have inclusions and flaws.

They are more romantic for all that because they have formed over

billions of years within the earth.

General Electric Co first synthesized diamonds in 1955. Since then the

process has been improved and gem quality stones can now be

produced. World preference overwhelmingly is for naturally occurring

diamonds.

What aresyntheticdiamonds?


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Chapter 22


This is due to a few factors. Firstly, diamond is the strongest and most

durable material known to man. The word diamond comes from Adamas -

Greek for unbreakable. They also take millions of years to form and the

highest quality diamonds are rare - the majority of mined diamonds are

unsuitable for jewellery.

Why are diamonds themost precious stone?


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Chapter 23


You can thank Archduke Maximilian of Austria for the love affair with diamond

engagement rings. His betrothed was Mary of Burgundy, heir to the largest

amassed wealth of title and fortune in that era. Her nickname was Mary the Rich.

The Duke decided nothing less than diamonds would do for his fiancee. Which

was only fitting for one of the most fabulously wealthy ladies of the time.

In 1477, Max proposed to Mary with an iconic diamond ring. Set with flat cut

diamonds in the shape of the letter M. A shrewd man then, and a trendsetter as it

turned out. For this was the turning point that meant diamonds were forever

associated with the ideal engagement ring gems.

Why are diamondengagement rings sopopular?


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Chapter 24


Coloured diamonds can certainly make a good investment. The rarity of pink

diamonds continues to see the price of these gems soar.

Most consumables may not however be considered as a sound financial

investment. The investment when you buy a diamond is in the sentiment that

accompanies it.

As with any financial investment, it is best to seek independent advice from a

trained financial planner.

Are diamonds a goodinvestment?


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collection of engagement

rings

Do You Have More QuestionsAbout Our Diamond Rings?


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Documents

The 24 Most Asked Questions About Diamonds Ebook/24... · 2017. 10. 8. · These can include marquise, pear, princess, cushion, ... retro or antique diamond engagement rings are both